Arts & Culture

These Vancouver Creatives Are Hosting a Pop-Up Kids Art Gallery This Weekend in East Van

Tombolo Pop-Up Children's Art Gallery lets kids see their work on the big stage—and reminds us all to keep playing.

By Stacey McLachlan /

There’s nothing wrong with displaying your kids’ artwork on the refrigerator—but don’t little artists deserve a more public forum on occasion?

Vancouver illustrator Anita Cheung thinks so, and she’s launching pop-up children’s art gallery Tombolo to remedy the situation. Over 70 little artists, aged between three and 10, will have their work on display over the course of Tombolo’s inaugural weekend, September 13 to 15.

Cheung roped in her friend and frequent collaborator Ryleah Resler to help, and together they’ve transformed Resler’s East Vancouver workshop (Sincerely Studio) into a full-fledged gallery. Admission to the gallery is free or by donation—proceeds go to Friends of the VPL—but tickets should be reserved in advance.

 

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There are also fun special events happening in the space, in case you like a little structure to your gallery-going experience. (Full disclosure: I’m hosting a pop-up toddler-friendly happy hour there on Saturday called Witching Hour—yes, a pop-up in an pop-up, we’re out of control—but it’s going to be sold out by the time you read this so this isn’t actually a conflict of interest at all.)

On Friday, there’s the opening night reception, of course, with juice boxes for the kids and stronger drinks for the adults. On Saturday, catch a music, art and movement class from Chorus and Clouds, followed by Witching Hour. Sunday, Cheung will be hosting a storytime and craft session, and in the evening, the grownups are invited to come together for a panel on lifelong creativity. Kids clothing shop Alligator Soup will be hawking new, used and vintage goods in the space all day Sunday, too.

Art lovers of all ages are welcome, of course, but this is a pretty special show to take your favourite little person to—a chance to prove that their work and perspectives deserve a moment in the spotlight. A heartwarming message that’s also cute as hell.

Tombolo Pop-Up Gallery runs September 13 to 15, 2024 at Sincerely Studios, 1320 E Pender, Studio B

Anita Cheung (left) and Ryleah Resler, co-founders of Tombolo. Photo: Shae Creative

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